Therapeutic Chair

ABSTRACT

A therapeutic recumbent chair having back and leg cushions and including an adjustable lumbar support member and an adjustable scapula region support member, each within the back cushion and movable toward and away from a front surface of the back cushion for adjustment of the support members against the back cushion for comfortably supporting the back of a user when the user is seated in the chair. Varying the positions of the adjustable lumbar support member and of the adjustable scapula region support member allows the chair to be configured to properly support a user&#39;s back when the user is in a recumbent position, for minimizing back problems of a user and for treating back disorders.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a therapeutic chair. More particularly, the present invention relates to a therapeutic recumbent chair that is adjustable for providing support surfaces to properly support a user's back when in a recumbent position, for minimizing back problems of a user and for treating back disorders.

2. Description of the Related Art

As reported by the Cornell University Ergonomics web, “An estimated 50% of people in the industrialized world suffer some form of back complaint and many of these are related to poor seat design.” It further notes that the lumbar region of the back is most often the affected part. Many different configurations of chairs having back support arrangements have been proposed and developed. But because of the complexity of the human vertebral column, few of those chairs, although adjustable, function sufficiently well to be suitable for providing proper back support, as well as for treating back disorders.

The human spine is a complex bony structure that includes several successive regions having different curvatures when it is viewed from the side of a standing person. Those regions include the cervical spine region adjacent to the neck of the person and that normally has a convex curvature when viewed from the side, and below it the thoracic region that normally has a concave curvature when viewed from the side. Below the thoracic region is the lumbar region, which also normally has a concave curvature, and below the lumbar region is the sacrum region.

Most back support devices are configured to provide support to the lumbar region, because that region is under stress when the person is in the sitting position. In order to relieve that stress, good posture is required that serves to dispose the back muscles and the vertebrae in proper alignment with firm support, or in time painful back disorders can develop. It is important that the back support be provided at proper positions of the vertebral column.

Another stress point on the back while a person is in the sitting position are the pressure points associated with the lower portion of the scapula, which is the bone that defines the shoulder blade and that connects the upper arm bone, or humerus, with the collar bone, or clavicle. The scapula is a flat bone, roughly triangular in shape, and includes an outwardly-projecting region. The outwardly-projecting regions result in stress on the body when the person is in a recumbent sitting position. Prior recumbent seating arrangements provide back support that does not address the scapular region stress. In instances in which the seating arrangement includes seat back side edges, or wings, that protrude forward of the center of the seat back, such as those founds in automobile seats and some office chairs, cause increased pressure on the scapula region by cupping the person's back, thereby resulting in discomfort that could later lead to a back disorder.

Prior seating arrangements are generally directed to treating back conditions, not on preventing them in the first instance. Persons prone to experiencing back problems would find it desirable to have an appealing piece of furniture that serves as a recumbent chair for relaxation, one that helps to prevent back problems, as well as one to treat back disorders in a comfortable, convenient, and passive way.

There is therefore a need for a chair that both prevents back problems and also treats back disorders when the person is in a recumbent position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an embodiment of a therapeutic chair is provided for preventing back problems of a user, and also for alleviating back disorders when the user is in the chair in a static, recumbent position. The chair includes a frame that can formed from a pair of parallel side panels supported in spaced relationship by frame support members that extend between and that are connected with each of the frame side panels. The frame support members hold the frame side panels in parallel, laterally spaced relationship.

As used herein, the term “recumbent” is intended to mean reclining with the back of the user of the chair oriented at an angle of from about 10° to about 80° relative to the plane on which the recumbent chair rests.

The frame side panels can include respective opposed, inwardly-extending back cushion support flanges for supporting a back cushion, and respective opposed, inwardly-extending seat cushion support flanges for supporting a seat cushion. The back cushion support flanges are disposed at an obtuse angle relative to the seat cushion support flanges. A back cushion is connected with and is supported by the back cushion support flanges, and it includes a rigid rear surface for supporting the back cushion. A seat cushion is connected with and is supported by the seat cushion support flanges and has a rigid lower surface for supporting the seat cushion.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a pair of laterally spaced, substantially horizontally extending, elongated arm rests can be pivotally connected to and supported by respective ones of the frame side panels to support a user's arms while the user is seated in the chair. The arm rests are supported for limited pivotal movement in an upward and rearward direction to allow easy access to and egress from the chair. To limit pivotal movement of the arm rests the frame side panels each include a respective stop to limit an angular range of pivotal movement of the arm rests from a first, substantially horizontal position of the arm rests to a second, upwardly directed position in order to facilitate entry onto and egress from the chair.

In a still further embodiment of the invention, a lumbar adjustment member is positioned within the back cushion for providing support for the lumbar region of a user who is seated in the chair. The lumbar adjustment member includes an adjustably positioned deflecting member positioned within the back cushion for providing support for the lumbar region of the spine of the user. The deflecting member has an adjustment member extending outwardly from a back surface of the back cushion. The adjustment member includes a series of longitudinally spaced, transversely-extending apertures for receiving a lumbar region retaining member in one of the apertures for retaining the adjustment member at a desired outward extension position relative to the back cushion back surface to provide a desired degree of lumbar support for a user.

In another embodiment of the invention, the chair can include an overhead grab bar above the back cushion to allow the user to grasp the grab bar, or, alternatively, to reach underneath and past the grab bar with the hands for contact with the forearm so as to use it as a lever point to stretch the user's arms, shoulders, and back. The grab bar also serves for facilitating a comfortable alternate recumbent posture wherein the user grasps the overhead grab bar to maintain a secure position. The grab bar can also be made adjustable in height in spaced relation with the upper edge of the back cushion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure, operation, and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a chair in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the chair shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the chair shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the chair shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the connection between an arm support member and an arm pivot member relative to a side frame of the chair shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the arm pivot member shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view through the chair and cushions to show the positions of the lumbar region and scapula region positioning members;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of a lumbar region support disk;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of a scapula region support member;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a support guide member and adjustment rod for the lumbar support region support disk and for the scapula region support member; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary rear view of the chair shown in FIG. 1 showing the neck pillow and associated pillow retaining member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, and initially to FIGS. 1 to 4, reference numeral 10 generally designates an embodiment of a therapeutic recumbent chair in the general form of a chaise lounge. Although illustrated and described herein in the context of a chaise lounge, it should be appreciated that the structure and the functional features of the present invention can also be utilized in other forms of seating arrangements, such as recliners, automotive seats, and the like.

Chair 10 includes a frame, which as shown in the drawings includes a pair of parallel frame side panels 12 that are spaced from and that face each other. The side frame panels can each be unitary elements, or, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, they can be formed from a frame back side panel 14 and a frame front side panel 16, wherein the frame back and frame front side panels are connected together by a side panel connection member 18 utilizing a plurality of screws 20, or the like. The two-piece side panel arrangement as shown facilitates shipping of the several parts of the unassembled chair in a smaller size shipping container that falls within the container size limitations of some shipping companies, so that shipment of unassembled chairs can be made by common carrier rather than by motor freight.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, the frame side panels 12 are supported in spaced, parallel relationship by a pair of frame support members 22 that are connected with and that extend between the frame side panels 12 to maintain them in spaced, parallel relationship. Each frame support member 22 is a U-shaped, tubular support member having a diameter of from about 1 in. to about 2 in. Each frame member has the parallel arms 24 of the U connected to respective ones of the front and rear frame side panels 14, 16 by suitable connecting members, such as bolts 26, or the like. The cross member 28 of the U-shaped support member 22 that extends between and connects with each of the parallel arms 24 is uppermost, as shown, and the lower ends of the parallel arms 24 are each connected to a respective foot 30, shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 as a disc for distributing the chair load on the floor surface over a larger area. The frame support member arms 24 are connected to respective ones of the feet 30 by connecting members, such as bolts, or the like, that pass through the feet and that can be received in threaded receptacles (not shown) securely positioned in the open ends of the tubular arms 24 of the support members 22. Arms 24 of the front frame support member 22 are connected to respective ones of the frame front side panels 16 by bolts 26, or the like, and arms 24 of the rear frame support member 22 are connected to respective ones of the frame rear side panels 14 by bolts 26, or the like.

As best seen in FIG. 3, each of frame side panels 14, 16 has a linear upper edge 32 from which a flange 34 extends in an inward direction, so that flanges 34 of each of frame rear side panels 14 face each other and flanges 34 of each of frame front side panels 16 face each other. Flanges 34 provide the support surfaces for supporting the respective cushions of the chair and include spaced openings for receiving screws (not shown) for connecting the cushions to the chair frame.

Chair 10 includes a back cushion 36 and a leg cushion 38. Each of cushions 36, 38 includes a rigid back panel 40 (see FIG. 7), a resilient foam body 42 that lies against back panel 40, and an overlying cover 44. Back panel 40 can be a plywood panel, resilient foam body 42 can be a resilient foam having a density of from about 1.5 lb/ft³ to about 3.5 lb/ft³, which can be a polyurethane foam, and a polymeric cover 44 that extends over foam body 42 and is connected with back panel 40. Polymeric cover 44 can be a vinyl coated fabric material. Leg cushion 38 includes a thigh-receiving region 46 adjacent to and inclined relative to back cushion 36 at an angle of from about 75° to about 130°, and a calf-receiving region 48 extending substantially horizontally outwardly from the outer end of the thigh-receiving region 46 and defines an angle therewith of between about 5° and about 45°, to provide a comfortable recumbent chair.

Although the chair frame is illustrated and described herein as formed from planar side panels interconnected by tubular cross members, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other forms of frame construction could also be utilized. For example, elongated angle members can be interconnected to define an open frame structure to support a back cushion and a leg cushion in the relative positional arrangement as those cushions are shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, chair 10 can include an arm rest 50 at each side of the chair. Arm rests 50 are flat panels, which can be padded if desired, and are connected with frame back side panel 14 for pivotal movement in a vertical plane. Each of arm rests 50 is connected to a respective arm rest support member 52, which can be an L-shaped tubular member as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3. Arm rest support members 52 each have an upper leg 54 that is oriented substantially horizontally and is connected with and underlies arm rest 50 to support it. Arm rest support members 52 each have a lower leg 56 extending at substantially a right angle relative to upper leg 54 and in a downward direction when arm rest 50 is horizontal, to connect at its outer end with an arm rest pivot member 58. Arm rest pivot member 58 is pivotally supported adjacent to the outwardly-facing surface of frame back side panel 14 and is pivotable about a fixed pivot axis provided by a pivot pin 60 that is connected to and extends outwardly from frame back side panel 14.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a stop pin 62 extends outwardly from frame back side panel 14 adjacent to and below pivot pin 60. Arm rest pivot member 58 includes a pair of spaced stop pads 64 that limit the range of pivotal movement of pivot member 58 and enable the pivot member to pivot about the pivot axis defined by pivot pin 60 through a desired angle, such as 90° as shown, but which can be an angle of from about 70° to about 130°, at the ends of which pivotal movement range one of stop pads 64 comes into contact with stop pin 62 to limit the pivoting of arm rest pivot member 58 and of arm rest 50. The pivotal movement of one or the other of the arm rests from the substantially horizontal position shown in FIG. 3 to an elevated position limited by one of stop pads 64 allows the user to easily gain access to or to leave chair 10 from the side without being impeded by arm rest 50.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken through the longitudinal center of chair 10 and of cushions 36, 38. As shown, back cushion 36 includes an inner adjustable lumbar support member 66 at a position within back cushion 36 corresponding substantially with the lumbar region of the back of a user when the user is in a recumbent position in the chair. Lumbar support member 66 is shown in FIG. 8 as a substantially circular flat plate that is initially in contact with the inner surface of back cushion back panel 34 to contact the back surface of back cushion 36. Lumbar support member 66 can be moved inwardly into foam cushion material 42 and toward the outer surface of back cushion 36 to accommodate the curvature of the lumbar region of the spine of the user, and to provide the desired degree of lumbar spine support for the user of the chair. Although lumbar support member 66 is shown as of circular form and having a flat outer face, it can also be of oval or elliptical form and can have a convex outer face, if desired.

Similarly, back cushion 36 includes an inner, adjustable scapula region support member 68 at a position within back cushion 36 and spaced upwardly from lumbar support member 66 to lie opposite the scapula region of the back of a user of chair 10. Scapula region support member 68 is shown in FIG. 9 as a flat plate of substantially oval or elliptical form, and is initially in contact with the inner surface of back cushion back panel 34. Scapula region support member 68 preferably has its major axis extending in the longitudinal direction of back cushion 36, and it can be moved inwardly into the foam cushion material 42 and toward the outer surface of back cushion 36 to lie opposite to and to accommodate the upper region of the user's back between the scapula bones, and to provide the desired degree of additional back support for the user of the chair.

As best seen in FIG. 7, each of lumbar support member 66 and scapula region support member 68 is attached to a respective adjustment rod 70. Each adjustment rod 70 is connected with the rearwardly-facing surface of the respective plate, the side that faces the back cushion support panel, by a respective bolt 72, and it slidably extends rearwardly through an opening formed in back cushion back panel 40.

Each of adjustment rods 70 includes a plurality of transversely-extending, longitudinally spaced throughbores 74, as shown in FIG. 10. Adjustment rods 70 pass slidably through an opening 76 in a respective guide member 78 that is attached to back panel 40 of back cushion 36 by screws 80, or the like. Each of guide members 78 includes a narrow throughbore 82 that passes transversely through guide member 78 and through guide member opening 76 to receive a cylindrical retaining pin 84 having an enlarged end or a ring 86. Pin 84 passes through one of throughbores 74 provided in adjustment rod 70 to lock adjustment rod 70 and the associated lumbar support member 66 and the associated scapula region support member 68 in a desired position spaced from back cushion support panel 40 to provide the desired degree of back support for the user. The adjustment of each of lumbar support member 66 and scapula region support member 68 is effected by removing retaining pin 84 and pushing adjustment rod 70 toward back cushion 36 until the desired position of lumbar support member 66 and scapula region support member 68 is achieved.

In addition to the lumbar and scapula region support members 66, 68, and as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and 7, chair 10 includes a pillow 88 that rests against the back cushion and that can be adjustably positioned along back cushion 36 for supporting the neck of the user of chair 10. Pillow 88 extends between and within the outer side ends of back cushion 36 and has a wedge shape when viewed in transverse cross section. The wedge shape of pillow 88 has a wedge angle defined by the outwardly-facing surfaces of pillow 88 and of such a magnitude, such as between about 270° and about 225°, so that pillow 88 does not completely fill the area behind the user's neck.

Adjustment of the position of pillow 88 along the outer surface of back cushion 36 is effected by a retaining component 90 that is connected with pillow 88 to extend rearwardly of pillow 88 and to pass over and around the upper end of back cushion 36, as shown in FIG. 11. Retaining component 90 includes a series of pairs of laterally spaced openings that can contain grommets 92, through one pair of which openings a pair of screw posts (not shown) that are located at the back face of back cushion back panel 40 and that extend outwardly and to which a retaining nut, or the like (not shown) is applied to secure retaining component 90 when pillow 88 is in the desired position on the surface of back cushion 36. Retaining component 90 is positioned relative to the upper edge of back cushion 36 to maintain pillow 88 in the desired position on the outer face of back cushion 36 for maximum comfort of the user.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1-4, chair 10 includes an overhead grab bar 94 that is supported by and that extends upwardly from and outwardly of back panel 40 of back cushion 36. Overhead grab bar 94 is a generally U-shaped component that is suitably connected to back cushion back panel 40, such as by screws, or the like (not shown), and is provided to allow the user of chair 10 to grasp grab bar 94 and pull, or to use it as a lever point in contact with the forearms to stretch the user's arms, shoulder, and back, and for providing the user with a comfortable, alternate posture with arms overhead by grasping of bar 94. Overhead grab bar 94 can be a tubular member having a diameter of from about 1 in. to about 2 in., and including a substantially horizontally-extending bar 96 and a pair of substantially parallel arms 98 that extend from respective outer ends of horizontally-extending bar 96 and that are connected to back cushion back panel 40 by screws or the like (not shown).

If desired, and also during assembly of the chair components, the position of back cushion 36 along frame back side panel 14 can be adjusted by grasping the two back cushion moving handles 100 shown in FIGS. 4 and 11 and moving back cushion 36 in the desired direction along flanges 34 of frame back side panel 14.

Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended to encompass within the appended claims all such changes and modifications that fall within the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A recumbent therapeutic chair comprising: a. a frame including a seat cushion support for supporting a seat cushion, and a back cushion support for supporting a back cushion; b. a seat cushion supported by the seat cushion support and a back cushion supported by the back cushion support, wherein the back cushion includes a longitudinal central axis, and wherein the back cushion is inclined relative to the seat cushion to support the back of a user of the chair at an angle of from about 10° to about 80° relative to a horizontal plane on which the frame rests.
 2. A recumbent therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 1, including a substantially horizontally extending overhead grab bar supported from at least one of a back cushion back panel and a back cushion side panel, and positioned above and spaced from an upper edge of the back cushion.
 3. A recumbent therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 1, including an adjustable lumbar region support member positioned within the back cushion and movable within the back cushion toward and away from a front surface of the back cushion for providing support for the lumbar region of the back of a user.
 4. A recumbent therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 1, including an adjustable scapula region support member positioned within the back cushion and movable within the back cushion toward and away from a front surface of the back cushion for providing support for the scapula region of the back of a user.
 5. A therapeutic chair comprising: a. a frame formed from a pair of parallel frame side panels supported in spaced relationship by frame support members extending between and connected with each of the frame side panels to hold the frame side panels in parallel, laterally spaced relationship, the frame side panels including respective opposed, inwardly-extending back cushion support flanges for supporting a back cushion and respective opposed, inwardly-extending seat cushion support flanges for supporting a seat cushion, wherein the back cushion support flanges are disposed at an angle of from about 60° to about 135° relative to the seat cushion support flanges; b. a back cushion connected with and supported by the back cushion support flanges and having a rigid rear surface for supporting the back cushion, and a seat cushion connected with and supported by the seat cushion support flanges and having a rigid lower surface for supporting the seat cushion; c. a pair of laterally spaced, substantially horizontally extending elongated arm rests pivotally connected to and supported by respective ones of the frame side panels to support a user's arms while seated in the chair and for limited pivotal movement in an upward and rearward direction to allow easy access to and egress from the chair, wherein the frame side panels include respective stops to engage with an arm rest pivot member to define an angular range of pivotal movement of the arm rests from a first, substantially horizontal position of the arm rests to a second, upwardly directed position; d. a lumbar adjustment component positioned within the back cushion for providing support for the lumbar region of a user seated in the chair, the lumbar adjustment component including a deflecting member positioned within the back cushion and movable toward and away from a front surface of the back cushion for providing support for the lumbar region of the spine of the user, the deflecting member having a lumbar adjustment member extending outwardly from a back surface of the back cushion, the lumbar adjustment member including a series of longitudinally spaced, transversely-extending apertures for receiving a lumbar region retaining member in one of the apertures for retaining the lumbar adjustment member at a desired outward extension position relative to the back cushion back surface to provide a desired degree of lumbar support for a user.
 6. A therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 5, wherein the frame side panels each include a front foot that underlies the seat cushion and a rear foot that underlies the back cushion.
 7. A therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 5, wherein the frame side panels each include a front side panel and a rear side panel, and each of the front and rear side panels are connected by a respective side panel connection member to provide a rigid connection of the respective frame side panels.
 8. A therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 6, wherein the frame side panels each include a parabolic arch between the respective front foot and the respective rear foot.
 9. A therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 5, wherein the seat cushion includes a thigh support region for supporting the thighs of a user's legs and a calf support region for supporting a user's lower leg, the thigh support region extending at an acute angle of from about 0° to about 45° relative to a horizontal floor surface and the calf support region extending at an acute angle of from about 0° to about 45° relative to and below a horizontal floor surface.
 10. A therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 5, wherein the arm rests each include a respective arm rest support member that extends from the arm rest to the arm rest pivot member that is pivotally mounted to a respective frame side panel, wherein each arm rest pivot member is pivotable relative to a stop member connected to the respective frame side panel.
 11. A therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 5, including a pillow that rests against the back cushion and is adjustable along the back cushion for supporting the neck of a user.
 12. A therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 11, wherein the pillow extends between and within outer side ends of the back cushion and has a wedge shape when viewed in a transverse cross-sectional direction of the pillow.
 13. A therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 12, wherein the pillow has a wedge angle of a magnitude such that the pillow does not completely fill the area behind the user's neck.
 14. A therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 11, wherein a pillow connecting panel is attached to the pillow and extends from the pillow over an uppermost surface of the back cushion to engage with a pillow position retaining arrangement to support the pillow in a comfortable position along the back cushion for supporting the neck of a reclining user.
 15. A therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 14, wherein the pillow position retaining arrangement includes openings formed in the pillow connecting panel and the back cushion back surface includes a plurality of projections spaced along the back cushion back surface for engagement with an opening in the pillow connecting panel for retaining the pillow at a desired position on the outer surface of the back cushion.
 16. A therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 5, including a grab bar supported by and extending from the back cushion to a position above the uppermost edge of the back cushion for grasping by the user's arms to allow the user to grasp the grab bar to stretch the user's arms, shoulder, and back.
 17. A therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 5, including a scapula region adjustment component positioned within the back cushion for providing back support between right and left scapula bones of the back of a user seated in the chair, the scapula region adjustment component including a deflecting member positioned within the back cushion and movable toward and away from a front surface of the back cushion for providing support between right and left scapula bones of the back of the user, the deflecting member having a scapula region adjustment member extending outwardly from a back surface of the back cushion, the scapula region adjustment member including a series of longitudinally spaced, transversely-extending apertures for receiving a scapula region retaining member in one of the apertures for retaining the scapula adjustment member at a desired outward extension position relative to the back cushion back surface to provide a desired degree of back support between right and left scapula bones of the back of a user.
 18. A therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 5, wherein the frame side panels and the seat cushion define an opening within which a user can operate a floor cleaning implement to clean beneath the chair.
 19. A therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 5, wherein the frame support members are of U-shaped form with respective legs of the U connected to a respective frame side panel.
 20. A therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 5, wherein the rear surface of the back cushion includes at least one outwardly-extending handle for grasping by a user for moving the chair.
 21. A therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 10, wherein the arm rest pivot members are selectively individually pivotable about respective pivot axes, and each arm rest pivot member includes first and second stop pads positioned to limit pivotal movement of the respective arm rest pivot members between a first, substantially horizontal orientation of an arm rest surface of the arm rest, to a second substantially vertical orientation of the arm rest surface of the arm rest.
 22. A therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 21, wherein the arm rest pivot members are pivotable through an angle of from about 75° to about 120°.
 23. A therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 19, wherein the frame support members are connected with the respective frame side panels in an inverted U orientation to allow unimpeded access to a floor below the chair by a suitable cleaning implement for cleaning the floor below the chair.
 24. A therapeutic chair comprising: a. a frame formed from a pair of parallel frame side panels supported in spaced relationship by frame support members extending between and connected with each of the frame side panels to hold the frame side panels in parallel, laterally spaced relationship, the frame side panels including respective opposed, inwardly-extending back cushion support flanges for supporting a back cushion and respective opposed, inwardly-extending seat cushion support flanges for supporting a seat cushion, wherein the back cushion support flanges are disposed at an angle of from about 60° to about 135° relative to the seat cushion support flanges; b. a back cushion connected with and supported by the back cushion support flanges and having a rigid rear surface for supporting the back cushion, and a seat cushion connected with and supported by the seat cushion support flanges and having a rigid lower surface for supporting the seat cushion; c. a substantially horizontally extending overhead grab bar supported from a least one of a back cushion back panel and a back cushion side panel and positioned above and spaced from an upper edge of the back cushion.
 25. A recumbent therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 24, including an adjustable lumbar region support member positioned within the back cushion and movable within the back cushion toward and away from a front surface of the back cushion for providing support for the lumbar region of the back of a user.
 26. A recumbent therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 24, including an adjustable scapula region support member positioned within the back cushion and movable within the back cushion toward and away from a front surface of the back cushion for providing support for the scapula region of the back of a user.
 27. A recumbent therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 24, including a pair of laterally spaced, substantially horizontally extending elongated arm rests pivotally connected to and supported by respective ones of the frame side panels to support a user's arms while seated in the chair and for limited pivotal movement in an upward and rearward direction to allow easy access to and egress from the chair, wherein the frame side panels include respective stops to engage with an arm rest pivot member to define an angular range of pivotal movement of the arm rests from a first, substantially horizontal position of the arm rests to a second, upwardly directed position;
 28. A therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 24, wherein the frame side panels each include a front side panel and a rear side panel, and each of the front and rear side panels are connected by a respective side panel connection member to provide a rigid connection of the respective frame side panels.
 29. A therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 24, including a pillow that rests against the back cushion for supporting the neck of a user.
 30. A therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 24, wherein the overhead grab bar includes a tubular member that is movable toward and away from an upper edge of the back cushion.
 31. A therapeutic chair in accordance with claim 24, wherein the frame support members are of U-shaped form with respective legs of the U connected to a respective frame side panel. 